The world's second largest economy is neither growing nor contracting, according to the latest HSBC/Markit Flash China Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI).
The closely-watched gauge of manufacturing activity had been expected to decelerate from 50.4 in October to 50.2 in November, but came in at 50. This was slightly below expectations. Any level above 50 in this survey shows manufacturing activity is expanding, so the November reading indicates China's economic growth has hit pause.
Data released last month showed that China's economy grew 7.3 per cent in the third quarter, year-on-year, its worst quarter of economic growth since the financial crisis.